Apparatus for counter-current extraction



,q1-roe Nay Oct. 6, 1936. A. oLlER APPARATUS FOR COUNTER CURRENT EXTRACTION Filed Jun-e 22. 1933 Patented ocr.' 6, i936`l UNITED STATES PATENT oFElcE APPARATUS FOR COUNTER-CURRENT EXTRACTION yAndr Olier, Clermont-Ferrand, France, assignor to Societe Anonyme des Etablissements A. Olier, Usines Saint-Remy, France Application June 22,1933, Serial No. 677,073 In France July 18, 1932v 1 claim. (ci. s'z-zs) and of the porosity of this material on the other ,Y

` vide for a device for the withdrawal of liquids,

the withdrawal taking place at a constant distance from the variableupper level of the liquid.

According to one feature, the device comprises a oat and a discharge element for the liquid connected with said float at a point situa-ted at a determined distance from the floating plane of the said float.

Other features of forth in the following description.

In the accompanying drawing, which is given solely by'way of example:

Fig. 1 is a vertical lengthwise section of a device accordang to the invention, applied, for example, to the case ofthe continuous diffusion process Afor extracting sugar containing substances from beets and .sugar cane, or fatty substances from oleaginous grains or oil-cake,

etc.

Fig. 2 is a corresponding side View. I

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3--3 of Fig; 2.

Fig. 4 shows in adetailed way the method of mounting the plates on the chains.

According to the example of construction herein represented, the device comprises an exhausting column I containing a number of perforated discs 2 mounted on calibrated movable chains 3. Said chains are driven by any suitable means and cause said discs to move in the direction of arrow f1. The discs carry the material or. substance to be treated.

A receptacle 4 is mounted laterally with respect to column l wherefromit is separated bylperforated wall `5. The bottom of receptacle Q carries secured thereto a tube 6 providedrwith l side-neck 1.

the invention will be set A pipe 8 enters the tube 6 and is provided at its upper part with an orifice 9., Pipe 8 is moreover secured to a float I0. The choice of the length of pipe 8 is so made as to cause this latter to constantly remain within tube 6 whatever the vertical movements of the float I0 may be. A stuiiing-box Il is provided between tube 6 and receptacle 4 in order to prevent all direct flow of the liquid from this receptacle into the tube.

The' operation of the above described device is the following. After they have been charged with the material to be treated the discs descend, as above mentioned, in the, direction of arrow f1. The liquid for the exhaust of the malterial carried by discs 2 is suppliedto the lower part of column l, and moves in the contrary direction according to arrow f2. This movement can be obtained by means of a static load. The liquid adapted to dissolve or to exhaust the material on the discs becomes thus gradually enriched, and is transformed into an extract. Should the static load be constant, the level of the liquid in column I will depend either upon the relative speed of the liquid and the material to bef'treated or upon the porosity of the piled up material and carried by the discs. As the richest part of the liquid always remains in the variable region marked X-X and as this region is adjacent the lower part of the f-resh material immersed in the liquid, the best withdrawal of the liquid will therefore take place at this Variable level X--X. The distance between variable level X--X and the variable upper level Y-Y is obviously constant, and therefore the distance between float I0 and orifice 9 may be so adjusted as to have orifice 9 always situated adjacent level X-X. The liquid will be thus discharged through orifice 9, pipe 8, tube 6 and neck 1.

It is obvious that the float may have any suitable form, and it 1s-not necessary tocause it to remain upon the surface of the liquid; it may of course be half submerged, or disposed in any other suitable way. T hus in the case of two liquids which are not miscible, if it is desired to withdraw, at the surface, solely the lower liquid of greater density, the iioat will be so constituted and its weight so chosen as to cause it to float upon the lower liquid. y

By the use of the device herein described, the eiiciency of the apparatus is greatly increased by 'avoiding all loss of space, because of the withdrawal being rendered independent of the level, contrary to what happens in`the case of a sta- 2 tionary oriiice, where the withdrawal ofthe liquid is intermittent should it be desired ttake. the liquid at av point situated quite the l surface of this liquid.

Obviously, the invention is not limited to the form of construction herein described and represented, which is given solely by way of example.

Having now described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

In an apparatus for counter current extraction, for the treatment of beet slices, oleaginous` adapted to carry the material tobe exhausted and suitably supported and guided within said column -for movement therein, a'contalner located along said column and in communication therewith through a perforated wall, a stuin box at the bottom of said oontaine a float in said'container, a oating pipe supported by said float and adapted to slide through said stumng box and a stationary discharge pipe in which the iloating pipe is adapted to extend, the iloating pipe being provided withga discharge orifice located at a predetermined distance with respect to the floating plane oi said oat.

ANDR yomnia., 

